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Thanksgiving in Roppongi, Tokyo; Romance Car to Hakone

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  • #31
    This is what they were queueing for..



    Just arrived in Vail, CO.

    Will try and finish TR here..

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    • #32
      I'm most impressed by Sadaharu's dessert creations and very much look forward to sampling the same myself one fine day... in 2010.

      No matter where I go, I always find myself drawn to Japan as the one place I admire and adore, both food-wise and culture-wise.

      Thank you very much for reviving fond memories of my past holidays there. Don't stop - this is a great TR in the making and an inspiration for others also!

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      • #33
        Thanks for another great TR, 9V-SIA.

        Originally posted by 9V-SIA View Post
        Just arrived in Vail, CO.

        Will try and finish TR here..
        Can we expect a TR on Vail, CO too ?
        Please?
        F all the way. Settle for J. Usually whY. Sigh.

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        • #34
          Geography Lesson

          You have to excuse me. Most of my crib sheets are in SIN but I'm keen to finish this TR so I'll wing it.

          Hakone was born 3,000 years ago when a volcano erupted here.

          It then collapsed to form a crater from which another volcano arose.

          So a dormant volcano sits in the crater of a supervolcano.

          The southern side of the crater became a lake, Lake Ashi.

          A river runs along the northern side.

          In addition, the train and road run along northern side.

          The train runs Odawara - Hakone Yumoto - Gora.

          Odawara is Shinkansen stop. Hakone-Yumoto is where Romance Car terminates.

          ie Romance Car brings you deeper into Hakone.

          ( It runs through a gap in the crater in the east towards Tokyo Bay )



          I will show you pictures of "The Loop" most day trippers will make:
          1. Along northern crater from Hakone Yumoto to Gora.
          2. Climb to the top of the volcano ( Owakudani ), then descend on the other side to Lake Ashi
          3. Take a pirate ship the length of Lake Ashi ( crater lake in the south ) to Moto Hakone
          4. Bus ride back to Gora ( for us ) or Hakone Yumoto ( for day trippers )


          "The Loop"

          I'll then show pictures of:
          1. Ryokan ( food porn included ) we stayed in for the first night, then
          2. Hyatt Regency Hakone, where we stayed for 2 nights
          Last edited by 9V-SIA; 3 June 2010, 08:13 AM.

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          • #35
            The first thing to say is if you plan to stay in Hakone, get Hakone Free Pass.
            It entitles you to all the public transport within Hakone. Not JR though.
            Discounts are given if you buy it when you buy your Odakyu Romance Car tickets.
            There is a surcharge when you travel on the Romance Car.

            Hakone Yumoto - Gora

            This is on a Hakone Tozan Railway switchback train.
            Meaning the train zig zags its way up to Gora.
            Twice it stops, tracks are switched, then it continues up on another track in reverse direction.
            Get ready to get great scenic shot as the railway track crosses the river.
            I missed it!!!!
            You only get one chance!

            The switchback train at Gora Station
            On our way home...



            Inside the train
            Not much room for bags. The Japanese travel light!
            On our way to Hakone, we couriered our bags to Hyatt Regency Hakone.
            We had to drag our bags along with us on the way back ( to NRT ).



            Scenic train ride
            I missed getting a pic as train crosses river. Don't you...



            December yet the autumn leaves are still stunning..



            Gora - Sounzan by cable car

            It's not a cable car. It's more like the Hong Kong Peak Tram.
            What's more the Hakone Ropeway we catch to continue to the summit
            and then down to Lake Ashi is a cable car not a Ropeway!

            Gora Station.
            Hakone Tozan Railway pulls in at right of picture
            Souzan Cable Car on left ( above blue van )
            Few shops around station close early. Don't expect night life in Hakone..



            Here comes the train..



            Interior shot..
            Note the steps inside train ( yellow lines )



            Halfway up the mountain, the track splits. Just like HK Peak Tram..



            End of the line. Short walk to transfer to Ropeway.



            Universal translator service. This in...
            ..Singapore = Cable Car
            ..Hakone = Ropeway
            ..Vail / Whistler = Gondola

            Last edited by 9V-SIA; 17 December 2009, 09:07 PM.

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            • #36
              Sounzan - Owakudani - Togendai

              The Ropeway takes you to Owakudani, at the top of the volcano.
              Then you have to change cable cars to descend.
              Or you can first get off and try their black hard boiled eggs before continuing.
              They are black because of the sulphur.



              I wanted a shot of our shadow to show how sunny it was.
              But it was so bright the shopping bag was caught in the reflection!




              Looking East, Tokyo Bay can be seen in the distance.



              On a good day, as you crest over the summit, Mt Fuji appears and the whole cable car goes "Waahhh!"
              Note steam vents at lower left side of pic



              Look down and you see them mining sulphur from the volcano,
              as well as steam vents. Smells like rotten eggs.





              On the descent, Lake Ashi is on the left. Mt Fuji on the right.



              Last edited by 9V-SIA; 23 December 2009, 12:20 PM.

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              • #37
                Ferry Ride on Lake Ashi

                At the Ropeway terminus, a short walk brings you to the ferry terminal at Togendai - ko.
                Accessible by road too. Car park was full of tourist buses who missed the Ropeway ride.
                Tis a pity to miss it. While you can catch the Ropeway from this end, better from Gora.
                Then you get the dramatic appearance of Mt Fuji as you crest the top of the volcano.



                The Pirate Ship.
                We wait for the school kids to disembark and then it's our turn.
                Surprisingly pleasant if a bit kitschy.
                The views are superb and I have a lot thanks to digital photography and SD cards!



                A look back at the ferry terminal as we leave
                At the other end of the lake, the ferry stops at 2 points, Hakonemachi & Moto Hakone.



                Lion of Venice
                Strictly speaking the Venetians did not operate ships like these



                However the Venetians were known to have state of the art technology..



                Moto Hakone from pirate ship.



                Peninsula
                Separating Hakone Machi & Moto Hakone.
                Look carefully. Peninsula in foreground by lake. Mountain in background.
                There used to be a Shogun's castle sitting here
                Now it is Hakone Detached Palace Gardens



                Village of Hakonemachi
                The modern building at the waterfront is Hakone Hotel.
                Went in to look. I'd stay there if I wanted a lake view.



                Finally time to get off the ferry. Look back for a view of Mt Fuji.

                Last edited by 9V-SIA; 21 December 2009, 10:58 PM.

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                • #38
                  Originally posted by SQJunkie View Post
                  Can we expect a TR on Vail, CO too ?
                  Please?
                  Definitely on the cards..

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Great TR 9V-SIA!

                    Never been in JP during Autumn. Looks like I have to make time for an Autumn trip come 2010.

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                    • #40
                      Originally posted by Nick C View Post
                      Great TR 9V-SIA!

                      Never been in JP during Autumn. Looks like I have to make time for an Autumn trip come 2010.
                      Thanks Nick C

                      It's beautiful in the autumn. We plan to do a dedicated trip to see the autumn colours.
                      Seeing the colours on this trip was an unexpected bonus.

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                      • #41
                        Hakonemachi and Moto Hakone

                        Aside from the interesting souvenir & snack shops that I like to browse,
                        we walked along the Cedar Avenue ( part of the old Tokaido trail ) from Hakonemachi to Moto Hakone.
                        You could take the pirate ship between H machi & Moto H too but don't. It is a pleasant walk to Moto H and you will miss the shopping in H machi
                        Tokaido trail was the "highway" that links Tokyo to Kyoto during samurai times.



                        Close my eyes and I imagine ninjas jumping on me from the cedar trees.
                        They surround me... circling.
                        I stare at the ground and slowly draw my Masahisa made samurai sword..





                        At the end of the walk, there is a tea house serving hot, sweet rice wine & snacks but we were running late
                        ( delayed by shopping in the 2 towns )
                        and decided to just lunch in Moto Hakone before heading back to the hotel by bus.

                        My Ramen



                        Dessert ( different restaurant )



                        Mt Fuji Views from Moto Hakone



                        Waahhh....



                        Bus ride back to Gora or Hakone-Yumoto
                        Even less room for bags than switchback train between Gora and Hakone-Yumoto.



                        Time to ski....
                        Last edited by 9V-SIA; 27 February 2010, 11:01 AM.

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                        • #42
                          Kinnotake

                          Introduction

                          The last time I stayed in a ryokan was in Kyoto on my honeymoon.
                          Refused to try again because:
                          1. Nowhere to have an afternoon siesta because futon is rolled away during the day
                          2. Futon is not comfortable to sleep on
                          3. Only spoke Japanese in ryokan


                          Times have changed.
                          Kinnotake offers:
                          1. Western style beds
                          2. Some spoke English ( Japanese who worked in hospitality industry in Canada for 3 years ) and Mandarin ( Mongolian , studied hotels in Japan )


                          30% of guests are foreign from Europe, North America and Asia ( China, HK, Taiwan, Malaysia ).
                          Singaporeans though form the largest group from Asia..

                          Entrance
                          It's a modern ryokan
                          SQTalk ( Petrolheads group ): Guess what the black car in the foreground is?



                          Lobby
                          Small lobby with no seating.
                          We were told not to come before designated check in time.



                          Floor Plan
                          Every room is different.
                          We were in Mayu.
                          Friends were in Haruka ( 2 levels ).



                          Bar



                          Patio outside bar



                          Spa Treatment Room

                          Last edited by 9V-SIA; 17 December 2009, 10:19 PM.

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                          • #43
                            Our Room

                            Entrance

                            Our dining room to left of light switch as you enter..



                            Dining Room



                            Bedroom



                            Outdoor shower and onsen



                            Bedroom View
                            Roof of Spa Treatment room seen in foreground to right of picture



                            Onsen View



                            Ryokan View from our bedroom



                            Next, the food....
                            Last edited by 9V-SIA; 26 January 2010, 03:54 PM.

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                            • #44
                              Dinner

                              The menu in Singapore. I will caption when I get home..

                              Edited 23 Dec 09. Captions added...

                              salmon
                              persimmon
                              turnip
                              seaweed
                              ginger
                              carrot





                              Soup
                              Japanese bluefish
                              Shiitake mushroom
                              spinach
                              carrot
                              citrus





                              Sashimi
                              different by the day
                              chrysanthemum
                              wasabi
                              salt


                              I notice salt is an added condiment during this trip. Served it a few times with sashimi




                              crab
                              sesame
                              steamed rice





                              sweet potato
                              cod roe with ginger
                              dried mullet roe
                              taro





                              salted salmon roe
                              citrus





                              Grilled dish
                              Spanish mackerel
                              ginkgo
                              lemon


                              Last edited by 9V-SIA; 23 December 2009, 11:10 AM.

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                              • #45
                                Dinner Part 2


                                arrowhead rice cracker




                                turnip
                                shrimp
                                Shimeji mushroom
                                chrysanthemum with sticky sauce





                                urchin
                                grated yam
                                sliced horseradish
                                jellylike soya sauce





                                taro
                                Omi beef wrapped in Isobe seaweed
                                chilli vinegar


                                See what I mean by the Japanese wanting to know exactly where their food comes from. A growing trend in the West too I notice.



                                barracuda rice ( what a lovely name )
                                miso soup
                                purple cabbage pickled in sweet vinegar
                                cucumber pickled in rice bran





                                strawberry and pear with brown sugar jelly
                                citrus sherbet
                                coconut mousse
                                cocoa mousse


                                Last edited by 9V-SIA; 23 December 2009, 10:50 AM.

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